In
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abe ...
, Rūha ( myz, ࡓࡅࡄࡀ, lit=spirit/breath; also known as Namrūs or Hiwat (Ewath; myz, ࡏࡅࡀࡕ)
) is the queen of the
World of Darkness (''alma ḏ-hšuka'') or
underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwo ...
.
She rules the underworld together with her son
Ur, the king of the World of Darkness, and her entourage of the
seven planets and
twelve constellations, who are also her offspring with Ur.
Ruha is the daughter of
Qin, the Mistress of Darkness in the first underworld. She is the ruler of the third ''
maṭarta'' (watch-house or purgatory). She is associated with lust, uncleanness (i.e., menstrual impurity), and other negative feminine qualities.
Names and epithets
The ''
Ginza Rabba'' refers to Ruha using various
epithet
An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...
s, such as:
*''Rūha Masṭanita'' "Ruha the Seductress"
*''Rūha ḏ-Qudša'' "
Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
"
*''ḏlibat ʿstra amamit'' "
Libat
In Mandaeism, Libat ( myz, ࡋࡉࡁࡀࡕ) is the Mandaic name for the planet Venus.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen Text ...
-
Ishtar
Inanna, also sux, 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒀭𒈾, nin-an-na, label=none is an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, and fertility. She is also associated with beauty, sex, divine justice, and political power. She was originally worshiped in Su ...
-
Amamit
In Mandaeism, Libat ( myz, ࡋࡉࡁࡀࡕ) is the Mandaic name for the planet Venus.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen Text ...
" (i.e.,
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never f ...
)
Use of the term "Holy Spirit" for Ruha is primarily confined to
polemic
Polemic () is contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position. The practice of such argumentation is called ''polemics'', which are seen in arguments on controversial topic ...
al texts, and not found in esoteric or ritual scrolls.
Other epithets mentioned in the ''
Ginza Rabba'' are:
*Amamit
*Namrus (Nimrus)
*Qananit (in ''
Right Ginza
The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza.
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Charles G. Hä ...
'' Book 6, i.e. the ''Book of
Dinanukht
Dinanukht (also spelled Dinanukt or Dananukt; myz, ࡃࡉࡍࡀࡍࡅࡊࡕ or ; from Persian 'the one who speaks in accordance with the religion') is a mythological character in the '' Ginza Rabba'', one of the main religious scriptures of Manda ...
'')
*Dayum (in ''
Left Ginza'' 3.27)
Gelbert (2013) connects the name Ruha to the city
Urha
Edessa (; grc, Ἔδεσσα, Édessa) was an ancient city ('' polis'') in Upper Mesopotamia, founded during the Hellenistic period by King Seleucus I Nicator (), founder of the Seleucid Empire. It later became capital of the Kingdom of Osroen ...
(
Edessa
Edessa (; grc, Ἔδεσσα, Édessa) was an ancient city (''polis'') in Upper Mesopotamia, founded during the Hellenistic period by King Seleucus I Nicator (), founder of the Seleucid Empire. It later became capital of the Kingdom of Osroe ...
), although this hypothesis has not been peer reviewed.
Children
Rūha bears a son called
Ur with
Gaf, one of the giants in the
World of Darkness described in book 5 of the ''
Ginza Rabba''. She then commits incest with Ur, giving birth to the
seven planets and twelve
zodiac
The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The pa ...
s (listed below).
;Twelve Constellations (''trisar malwašia'')
*
Daula (
Aquarius
Aquarius may refer to:
Astrology
* Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign
* Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages
Astronomy
* Aquarius (constellation)
* Aquarius in Chinese astronomy
Arts and entertainment ...
)
*
Nuna (
Pisces
Pisces may refer to:
* Pisces, an obsolete (because of land vertebrates) taxonomic superclass including all fish
*Pisces (astrology), an astrological sign
*Pisces (constellation), a constellation
** Pisces Overdensity, an overdensity of stars in t ...
)
*
ʿmbra (
Aries)
*
Taura (
Taurus)
*
Ṣilmia (
Gemini)
*
Sarṭana (
Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
)
*
Aria
In music, an aria ( Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompa ...
(
Leo)
*
Šumbulta
Shumbulta or Šumbulta ( myz, ࡔࡅࡌࡁࡅࡋࡕࡀ) is the eighth month of the Mandaean calendar. Light fasting is practiced by Mandaeans from the 26th to 30th days of Shumbulta. The Parwanaya, or five intercalary days, take place immediately ...
(
Virgo)
*
Qaina (
Libra)
*
Arqba (
Scorpio)
*
Hiṭia
Hiṭia ( myz, ࡄࡉࡈࡉࡀ) is the eleventh month of the Mandaean calendar. The first day of the month is Dehwa Daimana, the birthday of John the Baptist
The Nativity of John the Baptist (or Birth of John the Baptist, or Nativity of the Fo ...
(
Sagittarius)
*
Gadia (
Capricorn)
;Seven Planets (''šuba šibiahia'')
*
Shamish
In Mandaeism, Shamish or Šamiš ( myz, ࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ) is the Mandaic name for the Sun.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen ...
(Sun)
*
Libat
In Mandaeism, Libat ( myz, ࡋࡉࡁࡀࡕ) is the Mandaic name for the planet Venus.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen Text ...
(Venus)
*
Nbu (Mercury)
*
Sin (Moon)
*
Kiwan
In Mandaeism, Kiwan or Kiuan ( myz, ࡊࡉࡅࡀࡍ; fa, کیوان) is the Mandaic name for the planet Saturn.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen ...
(Saturn)
*
Bil (Jupiter)
*
Nirig (Mars)
Ruha also disguised herself as
Noah
Noah ''Nukh''; am, ኖህ, ''Noḥ''; ar, نُوح '; grc, Νῶε ''Nôe'' () is the tenth and last of the pre-Flood patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis, chapters 5� ...
's wife Anhuraita, sleeping with him and giving birth to three sons,
Ham,
Yam, and
Yafet.
Cosmological role
According to
Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley, Ruha is a complex character who can not be simply portrayed as an evil
archon
''Archon'' ( gr, ἄρχων, árchōn, plural: ἄρχοντες, ''árchontes'') is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem αρχ-, mean ...
.
Captivity and role in creation
As part of his descent to the World of Darkness,
Hibil Ziwa
In Mandaeism, Hibil ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or Hibil Ziwa ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.
Prayers in the Qolasta frequent ...
leads Ruha out of the World of Darkness, claiming to lead her to her parents in the world above, and seals her in a world belonging to neither light nor darkness. When sealed in this world, she gives birth to
Ur. Whereas Ur wishes to wage war against the World of Light, viewed in Ruha's mirror, Ruha discourages this intent. Hibil confiscates this mirror and binds Ur in chains, noting that
Hayyi Rabbi
In Mandaeism, Hayyi Rabbi ( myz, ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, translit=Hiia Rbia, lit=The Great Life), 'The Great Living God', is the supreme God from which all things emanate. He is also known as 'The First Life', since during the creation of th ...
had sent him in anger against Ur.
Ruha sleeps with Ur in a futile attempt to liberate him, giving birth to the
seven planets and twelve signs of the Zodiac, with whom she expresses dissatisfaction. Ruha and
Ptahil both play a role in creation, with each gaining control when the other's power subsides, but cannot animate mankind with a soul, despite providing him with their own mysteries, since Ruha represents the ambivalent "spirit" element rather than the light-world "soul" element. Adam is made after Ptahil's image, while Hawa (Eve) is made either after Adam's image or after Ruha's, depending on account. When Adam dies and ascends to the World of Life, Ruha tempts Eve to mourn his loss, and laments her own lack of gnosis of the treasures of salvation; when Eve dies and is lead to the World of Light by Hibil, Ruha bewails that Hibil takes from her everything which is desirable, leaving only that which is worthless.
Founding of Jerusalem and interaction with envoys
Ruha, in command of her sons the
seven planets, including Adonai (Shamish), sets out to build
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
.
Anush Uthra
In Mandaeism, Anush ( myz, ࡀࡍࡅࡔ, translit=Anuš) (also spelled Ennosh) or Anush Uthra ( myz, ࡀࡍࡅࡔ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ, translit=Anuš ʿUtra) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Anush is considered to be the Mandae ...
admonishes that 365 Mandaeans will arise in the city, but Ruha goes ahead with its construction, erecting its
seven pillars. Anush preaches Mandaeism in Jerusalem and gains a following converting Jews to Mandaeism; due to this, the Jews persecute and kill the Mandaeans, leading Anush to plan to destroy the city in retribution. Ruha futilely begs Anush for a compromise, first for him not to destroy her city, then for her to be permitted to aid him in the destruction by collapsing the walls upon the Jews, killing them; Anush accepts neither plea.
Although Adonai is depicted under Ruha's sway, the
Haran Gawaita
The ''Haran Gawaita'' ( Mandaic ࡄࡀࡓࡀࡍ ࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡕࡀ "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran") also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media ...
indicates the Mandaeans loved Adonai while in Jerusalem until the birth of Jesus.
Ruha's other interactions with lightworld envoys such as
Hibil Ziwa
In Mandaeism, Hibil ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or Hibil Ziwa ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.
Prayers in the Qolasta frequent ...
and
Manda d-Hayyi
In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia ( myz, ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ, lit=the ' Gnosis of Life', 'Knowledge of Life', or 'Knower of the Life') is an uthra (angel or guardian) sent by the Great Life (''Hayyi Rabbi'', or the Transce ...
are often more positive, where Ruha is rebuked but empowered, obtaining guidelines for her own salvation.
Redemption
In chapter 68 of the
Mandaean Book of John
The Mandaean Book of John ( Mandaic language ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ') is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by Mandeans to have been written by their prophet John the Baptist.
The book contains accounts of ...
, Manda d-Hayyi retrieves Kanath-Niṭufta (translated by
Charles G. Häberl and
James F. McGrath as "Droplet Steady") from the World of Darkness, who remains at the outer wall until summoned further under various epithets, including Marganita-Niṭufta (Droplet Pearl) and Simat-Hayyi-Niṭufta (Droplet Life's Treasure).
Buckley notes that some of these names appear as epithets of Ruha in the illustrated
Diwan Abatur
The ''Diwan Abatur'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ; "Scroll of Abatur") is a Mandaean religious text. It is a large illustrated scroll that is over 20 ft. long.
A similar illustrated Mandaean scroll is the '' Diwan Nahrawata'' ...
(an observation which had been noticed, but dismissed as a confusion, by
Mark Lidzbarski), and that the names
Simat Hayyi (Life's Treasure) and Niṭufta (Drop), are names used for the consort of Hayyi Rabbi in the World of Light.
Buckley interprets a passage in the
Qolasta referring to
Simat Hayyi coming forth from the World of Darkness and eventually being raised to the Place of Light as referring to Ruha, noting that
E. S. Drower had interpreted it in reference to
Zahreil, but arguing that Zahreil never left the World of Darkness. Buckley therefore argues that the Mandaean texts consider Ruha will eventually attain redemption, and merge with her
dmutha (ideal counterpart) in the World of Light.
Revealer of gnosis
Buckley notes that Ruha's insights while still in
Tibil (Earth) reflect the insights of a Mandaean gnostic.
In Book 6 (also known as the "Book of
Dinanukt
Dinanukht (also spelled Dinanukt or Dananukt; myz, ࡃࡉࡍࡀࡍࡅࡊࡕ or ; from Persian 'the one who speaks in accordance with the religion') is a mythological character in the '' Ginza Rabba'', one of the main religious scriptures of Manda ...
") of the ''
Right Ginza
The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza.
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Charles G. Hä ...
'', Ruha makes a speech similar to the Gnostic poem ''
The Thunder, Perfect Mind
"The Thunder, Perfect Mind" is a text originally discovered among the Gnostic manuscripts in the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. It follows a poetic structure, and has received scholarly attention for its gnomic style and unclear subject.
Form
Th ...
''. Part of the speech is given as an excerpt below.
I am the Life that was from the beginning.
I am the Truth (''kušṭa'') which existed even earlier in the beginning.
I am radiance; I am light.
I am death; I am life.
I am darkness; I am light.
I am error; I am truth.
I am destruction; I am construction.
I am light; I am error.
I am blow; I am healing.
I am the elevated man who is older and who was there before the builder of heaven and earth.
I have no peers among kings, and there is as yet no crown in my kingdom.
There is no human being who can give me a message in the foggy clouds of darkness.
– Translated by Buckley (2002) from Lidzbarski (1925), ''Right Ginza'' 6, p. 207, lines 34–42.[Lidsbarski, Mark (1925). ''Ginza: Der Schatz oder Das große Buch der Mandäer'', Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht/Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung.]
As the spirit
''Ruha'' can also mean '
spirit', which is roughly equivalent to ''
pneuma'' or "breath" in Greek philosophy. It is distinct from the ''
nišimta'', or incarnate
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest att ...
. In Mandaeism, humans are considered to be made up of the physical body (''pagra''), soul (''nišimta''), and spirit (''ruha'').
Parallels
The story of Ruha in Mandaeism is one of the parallels to the
Gnostic
Gnosticism (from grc, γνωστικός, gnōstikós, , 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems which coalesced in the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects. These various groups emphasized p ...
story of
Sophia falling out of the
pleroma. Ruha at first dwells in the
World of Light, until she "falls" and bears her son
Ur.
[Deutsch, Nathniel (2003). Mandaean Literature. In ] However, the conflict arising from seeking to create without the consent of the supreme deity is attributed to
Yushamin, the Second Life, and the origin of the demiurgic (
Ptahil) is attributed to
Abatur
Abatur ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ, sometimes called Abathur; Yawar, myz, ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ; and the Ancient of Days) is an Uthra and the second of three subservient emanations created by the Mandaean God '' Hayyi Rabbi'' ( myz, ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁ ...
, the Third Life.
See also
*
Krun
*
Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...
*
Rūḥ (Arabic cognate)
*
Nishimta
In Mandaeism, the nishimta ( myz, ࡍࡉࡔࡉࡌࡕࡀ ; plural: ) or nishma ( myz, ࡍࡉࡔࡌࡀ ) is the human soul. It is can also be considered as equivalent to the " psyche" or " ego". It is distinct from '' ruha'' ('spirit'), as well as f ...
, the soul in Mandaeism
References
{{Authority control
Demons in Mandaeism
Mandaic words and phrases
Mandaean philosophical concepts
Mythological queens
Holy Spirit
Personifications in Mandaeism